Women of Distinction

To many, Elizabeth June Davis can be described as an exceptional community leader, but to those who are part of Louis Street she is so much more than that. Ms. Davis is a community advocate, leading several programs for the Louis Street Association. Over the years, Ms. Davis has embarked on numerous initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life and safety for those within the Louis Street community. Through her work with Louis Street Association, and the Greater Sudbury Police Service, Elizabeth and her association were able to reduce police calls by 75% in her community. In addition to her work with providing support, Elizabeth has created programs for the children within the community to help them succeed through tutoring programs. Elizabeth has been the lucky recipient of the Police Services Community Volunteer Award, The Healthy Community of Excellence Award, The City of Greater Sudbury Civic Award, and the Our Children Our Future Volunteer Recognition Award.

As a community member stated, “She continually tackles issues with grace and an empathetic, respectful attitude”. Elizabeth is truly a loyal community member, dedicated advocate, and exceptional volunteer.

After spending many years volunteering in the health care sector, Mira recognized the importance of working within the industry. Mira is in her fourth year of Radiation Therapy and working on her thesis regarding meditation and breast cancer patients, in hopes to help women regain their sense of self-confidence. In addition to her impressive academic career, Mira has been a major community asset having volunteered with many organizations such as the Elizabeth Centre Long Term Care Home, Health Sciences North, Elgin St. Mission, and Big Brothers / Big Sisters where she is a big sister/mentor. Mira also works with refugee families within the community assisting them with translation, attending emergency medical appointments, and tutoring. Combined, Mira has over 3000 hours of community involvement and volunteer hours.

Mira’s community involvement began at a younger age. While in high school, Mira was on the student parliament, a student trustee for the Rainbow District School Board, and led the implementation of anti-impaired driving committees both at a regional and national level. Through this advocacy work, Mira also founded the Laurentian University Students Against Impaired Driving club which hosts events and awareness campaigns around the danger of impaired driving.

Through her advocacy and volunteer efforts, Mira has been awarded the GenNext Volunteer Excellence Award from the United Way Centraide North East Ontario, Action Sudbury bursary, and NOSM’s inter-professional committee for outstanding work in community service.

Mira’s next project is a lifestyle blog to promote healthy relationships with food. This blog aims to empower those with resources to make wiser decisions about the body and food.

As a recently retired primary school teacher, Liz Herd certainly continues to make an impact in the community. As a primary school teacher, Liz made sure no student ‘went without’ –meaning, she considered all students to be part of her larger school family and treated them as one of her own. Liz went above and beyond her teacher duties, and ensured all students had enough healthy food, adequate clothing, and a welcoming place within the school. Liz’s dedication to her community and work doesn’t stop there. As a Weight Watchers program leader, Liz works hard to ensure she is creating an encouraging, open space for women.

After the loss of her son to suicide, Liz began ‘Angels with Attitude’ to provide support for friends, family, and neighbours facing the challenge of mental illness. Liz created the group as a way to turn her shock and grief into positive action. Through the ‘Angels with Attitude’ the group continues to donate their time to create, collect and distribute donations to those who are in need of care and compassion within the community. In December 2018, the group donated 260 care packages to four centres at Health Sciences North, and to the Sudbury Mental Health and Addictions Centre on Cedar St., helping

individuals suffering from addictions and mental illness. Liz is someone who Property Management Support Workers with the Greater Sudbury Housing Corporation rely on to help gather and distribute furnishings and other household items to those in need.

“Her dedication to others makes her an exceptional human being and a role model to our community”

Lisa Lounsbury has always had a passion for health and wellness. After competing in a Pre-Olympic Triathlon in Albertville France in 1990, Lisa discovered her true passion. Lisa obtained her Fitness Instructor Specialist Certification and has been immersed in the health and wellness industry ever since. In 2012, Lisa took her passion to the next level and launched New Day Wellness Inc. As the President and Founder of the wellness company, Lisa has been an incredible promoter of the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health and well-being of others, particularly in the workplace. Lisa has inspired and motivated thousands of individuals to make wellness a priority.

Lisa will be celebrating 25 years of marriage to her husband, Dave, in September, and together, they have raised three incredible children who are all currently studying in university. Lisa volunteers her time in the community delivering wellness presentations for non-profit groups, and is a Rotary Sunrisers member, Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce Ambassador, Easter Seals Ontario volunteer, Heart & Stroke Foundation Fundraiser, Toastmasters International Chartered Member and Club mentor, Zawadi La Tumanini Children’s Home Nairobi founding Board Member and Chair, and Rotary noon-hour executive board member (2007-2012). As a life-long fitness guru, Lisa continues to be a competitive tap dancer with Dance Evolution, and she competes throughout Ontario and Quebec. Lisa’s most recent venture has been ‘Your Wellness’, which she produces and hosts on Eastlink TV. Lisa is an incredible leader in the community. As a business owner, volunteer and mentor she has built an established reputation in the health and wellness industry and will be launching the New Day Wellness Academy, an online learning platform for vital wellness education, in March 2019.

“I have met many entrepreneurs with great business models, and there has always been something about Lisa that stood out.  Her optimism and perseverance are both refreshing and admirable”

As a mother of four, Patricia Mardero understands the importance of leadership in the education system. Patricia began her career teaching in Renfrew County, but eventually returned home to Sudbury to teach for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board.  In 2004, Patricia became the first female principal for St. Charles College, the largest secondary school in Greater Sudbury.

Throughout her years at St. Charles College, Patricia has implemented numerous initiatives to give back to the community. She introduced the Open Doors program- an alternative education program to meet the needs of disengaged at-risk youth, primarily focused on keeping students in school.  She worked with community agencies and staff to bring a full breakfast program at the school, where bins of food are delivered to every class, every day.  The creation of the SCC Canned Food Drive has collected over 1,300,000 cans to date, and hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Sudbury Food Bank. The annual Relay for Life event has also raised thousands of dollars for the Canadian Cancer Society and the Northeastern Ontario Cancer Foundation. These programs amongst others are truly thriving under her leadership.

In 2015, Patricia was the recipient of the Catholic Principals Council of Ontario –Principal of the Year Award. Under Patricia’s leadership, she has lead initiatives to create clubs, councils, teams and groups in the school geared towards female empowerment at the former all-boys school. Patricia is a true leader who exemplifies positivity, balance and support.

“Patricia is a resilient leader, who always puts first the well-being of students and looks to serve the common interested of the school, board and community, when making a decision”

As a professional geoscientist with over 19 years of global experience within the exploration and mining industry, Shastri Ramnath has significantly impacted the sector. Beginning her career at Falconbridge in Winnipeg in 1999, Shastri then moved to Sudbury to join FNX Mining in 2002.  After several years, Shastri joined the executive team as President and CEO of Bridgeport Ventures Inc. where she raised over $17 million in the capital markets before merging the company. In 2012, Shastri co-founded and currently owns Orix Geoscience Inc., a consulting firm that partners with exploration and mining companies to provide front-end geological support. Orix now employs more than sixty people. At Orix, Shastri has implanted a unique business model accepting shares for work and having an equity stake in client’s companies in an effort to empower her employees. As an innovative workplace, Orix also works with employees to fund further education initiatives and pay off student debt so employees can focus on being successful.  More recently, Shastri co-founded Exiro Minerals, a junior exploration company and spin-out of Orix Geoscience.

Shastri is a mentor to young women through her positive leadership style, and passion for creating a gender balanced workforce. Through Shastri’s leadership, Orix has always maintained a technical workforce with at least a 50-50-gender split. The average age is 34, and 15% of staff are newcomers to Canada.

Shastri is also a very active member and speaker for events hosted by the Women in Mining Association. Shastri is a big advocate for gender balance in the mining industry and believes that building confidence in young women to help them find their voice to compete for their respective positions in a male dominated workforce is critical.

“This remarkable woman has excited the mining industry in Canada through her leadership, creativity, doggedness and superb and refreshing relationship with her employees and peers”

A serial entrepreneur, mother, health expert, and mentor, Jenn Ricker is a woman of many different talents. Her true passion lies in empowering women in the Greater Sudbury community. Having owned Zen Fitness since 2017, Jenn has created a safe place for women to explore and empower themselves through dance, yoga and fitness on a daily basis. Jenn doesn’t just own a fitness studio, she works hard to instill confidence and empower women through her work and brings positive energy to the environment. It is very evident, Jenn has a passion for health and wellness having started a program that encourages accessible classes for others in the community. Jenn launched a program that allows clients to work at the studio a few hours a week in exchange for a fitness membership. In addition to this, Zen Fitness is the only studio in Greater Sudbury that offers an outdoor bootcamp at Bell Park, 3 days a week during the summer months at 6:00am.

Outside of her work at Zen Fitness, Jenn has successfully owned several businesses over the years including a vintage clothing store (One Love), Sudbury BJJ (martial arts school), and now the Coordinator for the Sudbury FIVE dance squad, which she graciously volunteers and opens up her dance studio for the dancers to train and practice in. You can catch her courtside during every Sudbury FIVE game cheering on her team.

Her entrepreneurial spirit, work ethic, and determination makes her stand out in her field and as a business owner. Jenn works hard to create a safe space, and make everyone feel welcome.

Since August 1981, the Sudbury Women’s Centre has been working to provide a safe place for women to seek help and refuge when at times, there is nowhere else to turn. The non-profit, charitable organization, which is managed by 3 staff and 10 volunteers, is dedicated to providing information, referrals, and support services to women who have been impacted by violence and/or difficult life circumstances. The Centre promotes women’s status and well-being by offering key tools and resources that assist women in addressing issues of systematic discrimination and violence. The staff and volunteers at the Sudbury Women’s Centre continue to put in countless hours to make the Centre run. They continually create innovative ways to raise funds, apply for grants and keep working so that women can find solace. For example, this past year the team hosted a fundraiser called “My Sister’s Closet-Online Auction” which brought in over $1,000.00 for the Centre.

The Sudbury Women’s Centre has been in existence since 1981. On average, over 9,000 women access the Centre on a yearly basis. Within the last year, the Centre has truly flourished under new management, specifically in regard to partnerships and program offerings.  The Centre’s Programs include sewing circle, LGBTQ support groups, Sister’s Offering Support (SOS), Self-Compassion, Collective Kitchen, Safety Plans, New Beginning Workshops, Violence Prevention Workshops, and My Sister’s Closet –an affordable store available for women and children. 

With an average of 150-250 women per week visiting the Centre, the staff and volunteers continue to be innovative and demonstrate true leadership within our community.

“The Sudbury Women’s Centre is a place that strives and succeeds to make us feel supported and normal through the moments of struggle”